Elected Officials

EMERGENCY CREWS INVESTIGATING SUSPICIOUS BACKPACK

EMERGENCY CREWS INVESTIGATING SUSPICIOUS BACKPACK

2013-04-16 09:34

The Doña Ana County Sheriff’s Department, along with Doña Ana County Fire and Emergency Services, have blocked access to a residential area near East Picacho Elementary School after a suspicious backpack was reportedly seen hanging on a fence.

Around 7:32 Tuesday morning, a homeowner who lives near the intersection of North Valley Drive and Jeanne Court called 911 to report the pink and black backpack. As a result, fire crews and law enforcement have blocked that intersection and are working with the administration at the school to have students and faculty stay indoors while the backpack is removed.

The Doña Ana County Bomb Squad is in route to help with the removal, and to ensure nothing out of the ordinary is inside. According to Doña Ana County Deputy Fire Marshal Eric Crespin, this response is standard protocol in situations of this nature.

The homeowner has been evacuated from his home, but no other residents in the area have been affected.

Until further notice, all north and south bound traffic on N. Valley Drive is being rerouted.